Adjustable desk top



Dec. 25, 1951 B. J. 'obM ETAL 2,579,606

ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP Filed Dec. 6, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS n amln J: 0 m Claude I. Ti nklepaugh Edward Earl Wsfen J TORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 B. J. 00M ETAL ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP Filed Dec. 6, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ben EN 1 Ti 00m h 1' Edward Earl ,B .W J TTORNEY |NV ORS Jamtn Claude nlile Dec. 25, 1951 a QOM AL 2,579,606

ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP Filed Dec. 6, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Benjamin .1: 00m Claude L. Tinlilepaugh Edward Earl Fests! j i MM JJ ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 Filed Dec. 6, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ray. 9

QRZEF INVENTOR Benjamin .I 00m Claude L. .T'inltlezzaugh Edward Earl Wesien ATTORNEY B. J. 00M ET AL 2,579,606 ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP presents an attractive appearance; to such a combined desk and chair structure in preference of the individual occupant Patented Dec. 25, 195i ADJUSTABLE DESK TOP Benjamin J. 00111,

signors to American Rapids, Mich., a cor Claude L. Tinklepaugh, and Edward Earl Westen,

Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

Seating Company, Grand poration of New Jersey Application December 6, 1946, Serial No. 714,396 Claims. (Cl. 312316) The present invention relates to combination desk and chair structure and more particularly to such articles of furniture especially adapted for use in classrooms and the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a combined desk and chair structure of unitary construction in which the desk comprises a top box having a storage compartment for 'books and the like and a fiat desk-top which serves as a combined cover for the storage compartment and a horizontal work table, or as an inclined table or easel which is especially convenient for writing, drawing or reading; to provide such a desk structure in which the cover may be adjusted to different inclinations for different work requirements or to suit the preference of the chair occupant; to provide such a desk structure in which ready access may be had to the storage compartment by raising the edge of the cover nearest the chair occupant; to provide such a desk structure in which the mechanical parts such as hinges and latch mechanism are well concealed from view so that the desk which the chair is turnably mounted and is also adjustable forwardly and rearwardly so that the chair may be positioned for maximum comfort and convenience in relation to the inclination of the desk top cover and likewise to suit the thereof; and in general to provide such a structure which is convenient in use, reasonably economical in manufacture, and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined desk and chair structure in use by an occupant, the desk cover being shown inclined to a convenient position for reading and writing;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the top box of the desk, the cover therefor being here shown raised in a position to give ready access to the storage compartment;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the combined desk and chair structure, showing the cover of the desk in a horizontal position in full lines and in an inclined position of use in dotted lines,

provide.

parts being shown in ure 2) a bottom l1,

dotted lines, certain central, longitudinal, verclined position of use in tical section view;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the right front corner of the desk struc- 'ture;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-4 of Figure 6;

Figure Bis a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 "of Figure 3, and

Figure 10 is a. sectional view taken on lines I 0-49 of Figures 3 and 9. Referring now in detail to these drawings, the combined desk and chair therein shown comprises generally a supporting frame having spaced vertical'supports l I, I2 of tubular metal construction connected by a horizontal member l3'likewise of tubular metal construction. These three tubular members may be fabricated from a singlelength of metal tubing bent at front and rear to form a U-shaped frame which is supported in the, front by a sheet metal foot member 14 and in the rear by a similar sheet metal foot member l5, which construction is more fully disclosed in Patent No. 2,317,077 issued April 20,

1943 to E. B. Morsanand by him assigned to our assignee.

The top of the desk structure comprises a unitary sheet metal top box [6 having (see Figfront wall l8, side walls I! and rear wall 20 defining a storage compartment or the like. This top box post 22 which is vertically adjustably secured in the vertical the chair being shown in one adjusted position a raised position for access to the storage compartment in full lines, and in a different insupport II by means of a clamp 23. box l6 serves as a mounting fiat, preferably wood, desk-top the desk-top 24 serves when in tion as a cover for the top box partment therein.

The desk-top or cover 24 is connected to the top box I6 by meansof a hinge member 25 of sheet metal which extends from side to side of the structure. At each side of the hinge member 25 is a forwardly projecting pivot lug 26 the forwardmost end of w at 21 to a forwardly projecting lug "28 on a.

The to!) member for the 24 and in turn its lowered posiand storage combracket 29whose inwardly projecting flange 30 is secured as by welding to a flange 3| projecting. inwardly from: thetop of the front wall I 8' of the top box. The desk-top cover 24 is recessed vwardly projecting flange The hinge member 25 is the covers underside intermediate" the covers latch device; best shown in Figures l horizontal pill 41 at 32 to accommodate the pivot lugs 25 and 28.

As best seen in Figures 68, each of the brackets 29 on either side of the top box IE has an in- 33 to which is secured as by means of a rivet 34 the front flange 35 of a housing 36, and a rear flange 31 on each housing 36 is secured to a flangew38 extending inwardly from the top of the adjacent'side wall l9 of the top box, as by rivets 39. These housings 36 enclose Wings 40 which depend from the opposite sides of the hinge members 25, and thus any books which may be in the storage compartment are protected from mutilation by ovement of the Wings 40.

It will be seen that the hinged at its front to the swingably about a horizontal axis (the pivots 21), and the hinge member is limitedin itsubward swinging movement by contact 'of stops 4 j near the lower ends of the wings 40 with stops 412 on the upper side walls of the housings 35.

hingedatits rear to hinge member 25 is front and rear edges, and s'wi'hg'ablyabout'a horizontal "axis, by means oi'hing'e leaves 43 through which, and through the curled rearedges l i'of .the hing'member' 25',fextends 'a pin 45.

A latch device is provided ionnormall'y latching the cover 24 to the hinge member 25. This an'cl'fi, comprises a latch lever- 46 turnably mounted on a supported by angle brackets 48 which are secured as by welding to aliannel b'ar 49 whose flanges B are secured 'to the hinge member 25, also as by weldingI The latch lever 46' has anb-p'erating handle portion 5| which extends through an aperture" 52 'thechannel b'ar 49;.and a latch arm"portion 53 which'e'xtends through 'an aperture 54 in "the hinge member 25 andis adaptedto engage a keeper-"55 secured secured to a brack'etflt' and" to the la't'clifl'ev'er 4'6 normally urges thelatch"i nto engaging po ition with'the'ke'eperfitii It will thus besehthat j when the cover 24andthehinge'mernber ie flush together; theyfinay be moved in uniso'ifabout'the pivotal connectionsor the liiilllg iiilribeitb' the .to box; and'that the latchhan'dletl is concealed from view with the desktop'is moved to a raised'position as illustrated in Figure ing which movements the hihge'member and the cover 26 move unison; and these members are maintained in raised position (unti1 manually lowered) by meanslof fibrous frictionwashrs" 58 and 59 which are interposed betweenthe' "wings "40 of the hinge member 25 "and'the adjacent parts of housings 361" As best seen inFigures'fi -fl the washer 58 is secured as by meansbf'aTii/et (id-to the main'wall of the housing and"bears front oi-the top' box in Figure 2 and latch mechanism, which is depressed by the chair occupant thus permitting the cover 24 to swing downwardly independently of the hinge member "to'a rearwardly-downwardly inclined use position as illustrated in Figure 1 and by dotted lines 'inFig'ure's 3"and during which movement the hinge member 25 is maintained in its rearwardlyupwardly inclined position by the friction washers 58 and 59. Inlsuch inclined position of use,

against the inner surface oftheadjacent wing 40, while the washer 59 is seeuredesby means er a rivet Bl to 'an o'utwardlyand forwardly turnedspring'arm 62 on the'housing andbears against the outer surface of said wing ill/An adjustment screw 63 having a nut connects the spring arm 62 and the main wall of thehofus- -ing36,' and it Will be Seen thafithe amount Of pressure'exerted by the friction-washers 5; and 59 on the wing-MI therebetweenmay be greatened or? lessened by tightening or" loosening" the screw '53 with an ordinary screwdriventhus 'toenable s eme h the c'overis firmly supported by engagement of the rear wall 20 of the top box in one of the channels 65 of a keeper member 66 secured as by screws 61 to the bottom of the cover near "thelrea'i" thereof. "To" return the cover to its horizontal position, the chair occupant need only raise the cover'until the latch arm won the hinge member '25 snaps intdengagement with the keeper"55 on' the cover, whereupon the cover may be 'manually lowered in unison with the hinge n 5. u g V v The chair 5g of the structure is mounted upon the verticalsupport l2 of the frame,'and generally comprises jsideframes 69 erra a, back" rails 1| and lg; anda seat'lt; The chair mounting cornpri'ses an annular bracket 14 having'fa depending sleeve is fitted intu t-he u per end'ofthe vertical therein by"meanis of a clamp "it. 7 The upper end of "the annular bracket 14 is flared outwardlyto f orm'ac'on'ieal bearing in whichis rotatably disposed the'boiiical Iniddleportion if? of a mounting member iii having'a'depending sleeve "it! turnably disposed n the sleeve '15 er the annular bracket lei "Ifhe upper portion of them'ounting member i3 is fiangedoutwardly to fori ha rectangular p ate-es, fthe'side marginal edges" of which iormguideways 8"!" 'forrunn ers 82 which are held in'p' ositi'on'on the guideways Bl by means of "notched cross-sectionally Z-shaped angle irons $32 Scrcwsflll secure [both the angle iron BEr'and-the runnersgfto the bottom of the $693073? It will thus be seen that the chair 68 is mounted for rdtation' to'providejfor "convenient ingress and egress of'the-"chaii occupant; and that the chair is also 'mounted iorforward and rearward sliding adjustment in truer that the-sar ne may be positionedc orrectly'and conveniently relative to thdesk. rear" stopajd issecured to the seat bottom' 'it as ty rneane of ascrew 35, and a front stops? and spacer -b'lock were secured to the seat bottqrnldas by means" of screws iifl'and 90, and the "stops"serveto limit the 'forward'and reerwer'deuaing movements of the chair.

- butone specific embodimentof the ine ventio'n has' been herein shown' and describedjit will be understood that this 'el nlbodimentimay be out-departing from the spirit of the H defined by the following'claims. ..W' 1 '5"' l.

11 In" a desk structure of the character described: a toii box fc'oniprisingabottom; a front =wa wsidewveiis,an a rear'wall; ahinge member having a portion extending from'side"to"side hinge member having wing portions depending from the opposite sides of said web portion; housings secured to the opposite side walls of the top box and enclosing said wing portion of the hinge member in the hinge member's lowered position; adjustable friction means interposed between each housing and the wing portion enclosed thereby for preventing the free movement of the hinge member; a cover for the top box connected to the rearward end of the hinge mem- 1 0 ber'swingably about a second horizontal axis, said cover being movable with the hinge member about the first-mentioned axis to an upwardly inclined position giving access to the top box and being movable relative to the hinge member about the second-mentioned axis to a downwardly inclined position wherein the covers free end is supported by the rear wall of the top box.

2. In a desk structure of the character described: a top box comprising a bottom, a front wall, side walls, and a rear wall; a hinge member having a web portion extending from side to side of the forward part of the top box and connected to the top box at the upper forward corners thereof swingably about a horizontal axis, a cover for the top box extending from front to rear thereof and connected to the rearward end of the hinge member swingably about a second horizontal axis; a latch lever pivotally mounted on the web portion of the hinge member and a keeper mounted on theunderside of the forward portion -of the cover, said latch lever having an operating handle portion extending within the top box when the hinge member is in lowered position and a latch portion adapted to engage said keeper when the forward portionof the cover lies flush against the hinge member, spring means for normally urging the latch to its position of engagement, said cover being thus movable with the, hinge member about the first-mentioned axis to an upwardly inclined position giving access to the top box and to the operating handle portion of the latch, lever, and said cover upon release of the latch lever being movable relative to the hinge member about the second mentioned axis to a downwardly inclined position wherein the covers rearward end is supported by the rear wall of the top box.

3. In a desk structure of the character described: a top box comprising a bottom, a' front wall, side walls, and a rear wall; a hinge member having a web portion extending from side to side of the forward part of the top box and connected to the top box at the upper forward corners t thereof swingably about'a horizontal axis; a cover for the top box extending from front to'rear thereof and connected to the rearward end of the hinge member swingably about a second horizontal axis; a latch lever pivotally mountedon the Web portion of the hingemember and a keeper mounted on the underside of the forward portion of the cover, said latch lever having an operating handle portion extending within the top box when the hinge member isin lowered position and a latch portion adapted to engage said keeper when the forward portion of the cover lies flush against the hinge member; spring means for normally urging the latch to its position of engagement; said cover being thus movable with the hinge member about the first-mentioned axis to an upwardly inclined position giving access to the top box and to the operating handle portion of the latch lever; friction means interposed between the top box and the hinge member for supporting the hinge member and the cover in variously swung positions; and said cover upon release of the latch lever being movable relative to the hinge member about the second-mentioned axis to a, downwardly inclined position wherein the covers rearward end is supported by the rear wall of the top box.

4. In a desk structure of the class described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member hinged at its front to the upper front edge of the top box and hinged at its rear to the covers underside intermediate the covers front and rear edges so that lifting of the covers. rearward portion causes the covers forward portion to bear against the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and cover being thus movable together about the hinge connection of the hinge member to the top box to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; a pivotal support associated with the top box and the cover and movable with the cover during said swinging movement to an elevated position of pivotal support for the cover intermediate said covers front and rear edges; said front edge of the cover being dissociable from the hinge member to permit swinging movement of the cover about said pivotal' support to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined elevated position, and stop means preventing forward or rearward and consequent lowering movement of the cover when in said rearwardlydownwardly inclined elevated position.

5. In a desk structure of the character described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member hinged at its front to the upper front edge of the top box and hinged at its rear to the covers underside intermediate the covers front and rear edges so that lifting of the covers rearward portion causes the covers forward portion to bear against the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and cover being thus movable together about the hinge connection of the hinge member to the top box to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; and means for maintaining the hinge member in rearwardly-upwardly inclined position while permitting movement of the cover about its hinged connection to the rear of the hinge member to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined position where in the forward part of the cover is supported by the hinge member and the rearward part of the cover is supported by the rearward part of the top box.

'6. In a desk structure of the character described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member hinged at'its front to the upper front edge of the top box and hinged at its rear to the covers underside intermediate the covers front and rear edges so that lifting of the covers rearward portion causes the covers forward portion to bear against the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and cover being thus movable together about the hinge connection of the hinge member to the top box to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; means for maintaining the hinge member in rearwardly-upwardly inclined position while permitting movement of the cover about its hinged connection to the rear of the hinge member to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined position wherein the forward part of the cover is supported by the hinge member and the rearward part of the cover is supported by the rearward part of the top box; and releasable latch means normally associating the cover and the hinge member for movement in unison to said rear- 76 wardly-upwardly inclined positions.

asi'acoe In a vdesk structure of the charactercle;.- scribed: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member hinged at its front to the upper front edge of the top box and-hinged at its rear to the eovers underside intermediate the covers front and read edges so that lifting of the oovers rearward portion causes the covers forward portion to bear against the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and cover being thus movable together about the hinge connection of the hinge member to the top box to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; and friction means interposed between the top box and the hinge member for maintainin the hinge member in rearwardly-upwardly inclined position while permitting movement of the cover about its hinged connection to the rear of thehing'emember to a rearwardlysdownwardly inclinedlposition wherein the forwar part of the cover is supported by the hinge member and the rearward part of the cover is supported by the rearward part of the top box. 7

'8. In a desk structure of the character described: an upwardly open top box and a cover therefor; a hinge member hinged at its front to the upper front edge of the top box and hinged at its rear to the covers underside intermediate the covers front and rear edges so that lifting of the covers rearward portion causes the covers forward portion to bear against the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and cover being thus movable together about the hinge connection of the hinge member to the top box to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions;

' friction means interposed between the top box and the hinge member for maintaining the hinge member in rearwardly-upwardly inclined position while permitting movement of the cover about its hinged connection to the rear of the hinge member to a rearwardly-downwardly inclined position wherein the forward part of the cover is'supported by the hinge member and the rearward part of the cover is supported by the rearward part of the top box; and releasable latch means normally associating the cover and the hinge member for movement in unison to said rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions.

9. In a desk structure of the character described: an upwardly open top box and acover therefor; a hinge member hinged at its front to the upper front edge of the top box and'hinged at its rear to thecovers underside intermediate the covers front and rear edges so that lifting of the covers rearward portion causes the covers forward portion to bear against the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and cover being thus movable together about the hinge connection of the hinge member to the top box to rearwardly-upwardly inclined positions; means for'maintaining the hinge member in re'arwardlyupwardly inclined position while permitting movement of the cover about its hinged connection to the rear of the hinge member to a rear-' :wardly-downwardly inclined position wherein the forward: part or t e, co e i supported by the hin e m mbe and he rea w rd. par o th cover is suonortedby the. rearward p of thev too box; n means at th roar f the oov rs nde s d adapted to en a e th rear d e of t p b in various rearwardly-downwardly inclined positions of the cover.

4 -,.10.. In a-desk structure of the character described: a vertical support; a horizontal desk-top supporting structure on the upp r e d oi the v tical support;- a fiat desk-top supported by the desks-top supporting structur n a n ally u stantially horizontal position; a hinge member disposed between the desk-top supporting structure and the desk-top, said hinge member havins its f rwa d e d onnected swir s b a ou a first horizontal axis to the front of the desk-top supporting structure and having its rearward end connected swingably about a second horizontal axis to the underside of the desk-top intermediate the latters front and rear edges so that lifting of the desk-tOps rearward portion causes the desk-tops forward portion to bear ainst the upper surface of said hinge member, the hinge member and desk-top being thus swingable together about said first horizontal axis; and means associated with the hinge member and the desk-top supporting, structure for maintaining the hinge member in rearwardly-upwardly inclined position while permitting movement of the es o about saidoeoond hori on l xis to a arw lyssownwardly in lined os on wherein the forward part of the desk-top is supported by the hinge member and the rearward BENJAMIN J. ooM. CLAUDE L. TniK sPaUen. EDWARD EARL wEsr N.

.sEFEsEN Es CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

; IT D STAT S PATENTS Number Name a 310,877 Butterfield -.-.V Jan. 20 1885 346,795, Wilcox 1 Aug. 3 1886 563,638. Ba r 77,-. r --lu y 89. 909,751 Butcher et al. Jan. l 2, i909 1.0 L1' I QIv rz-r M y 6 1913 7 1,1 1,841 I w n Do 4 1,327,627 Travis Oct. 13, 1931 LMOBTZS Me r l v-.-.--- v-s--v----.- n- 5, 3 1,920, 52 W gn r -v- -r-l--T-.- s- 1933' 1970,87; Yo n c---- A s- 2 1 3 1,976,081 Merrill Oct. 9, 1934 2,3 i ,6,9 19 Hillenbrand Apr. 18, 1944 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7 6,767 7 Switzerland May 19, 1893 "216.763 Great Britain June 5, 1924 

